Movember's Unmute - Ask Him Campaign Urges You To Ask The Men In Your Life How They're Doing

Triple M Supports The Movember Movement

Matt Bellotti

2017-09-09T05:45:45Z

The Movember Movement

It’s not always easy to know how a man is really doing. Which is why the Movember Foundation is encouraging the people around men to take themselves off mute and ask a man if he’s doing O.K.

Triple M are proud to support Movember's Unmute - Ask Him campaign.

In the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, leading men’s health charity the Movember Foundation is helping to ignite potentially life-saving conversations through their Unmute – Ask him campaign.

In addition to funding more than 1,200 innovative men’s health projects across 21 countries focused on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, the Foundation is also shedding light on the role of men’s support networks – family, friends and partners – who can help men to remain mentally well through practicing active listening and maintaining social connections.

WATCH: Jimmy Barnes made this video for Triple M about his own challenges

Starting from September 7, Unmute – Ask him is a month-long campaign by Movember to encourage open conversations around men’s mental health as a way to ultimately reduce the high rate of male suicide.

Disguised as a series of how-to videos where a man takes the viewer through simple tasks, such as ‘Make a soda can fishing rod’ and ‘Never run out of a gas again with this simple trick’ – each video demonstrates the importance of taking the initiative to ask men how they are doing, and not just assuming everything is O.K.

While the video subtitles appear to mirror the men’s actions, when the viewer unmutes, they’ll hear a completely different story – about men who are beginning to show signs they are struggling.

"Our research has shown that whilst 70% of men say they are there for their friends when they need support, only 48% are prepared to go to someone when they’re struggling themselves – bringing to life the need for those around men to take themselves off ‘mute’ and start the conversation,” says Craig Martin, Global Director, Mental Health & Suicide Prevention at the Movember Foundation.

“As part of our strategic vision to support men and boys being mentally healthy and taking action during tough times, backed by their friends, family and community, Movember is building capacity around men, to ensure more men talk and feel the benefits of being heard,” he said.

“The network around men currently do not reach out enough to ask how guys are really going. We can all play a part in reducing the rate of male suicide by sparking a potentially life-changing conversation – the simple first step is just to ask and listen.”

As well as encouraging people to share the Unmute – Ask him campaign videos on social media, Movember also wants people to start conversations with men they care about in just four simple steps:

Ask how they are doing

Listen without judgement

Encourage action

Check in regularly

The Movember Foundation’s suicide prevention campaign is a key strategic element of their goal to reduce the rate of male suicides by 25%, and ultimately, the number of men dying prematurely by 25%, by 2030.

To learn more about how you can effectively help the men in your life open up and to view and share the Unmute – Ask him videos visit www.movember.com/iwanttoask.